Quilting ruler, quilting ruler system, and method of use

ABSTRACT

Embodiments of the present invention include a quilting ruler to facilitate home embroidery machine user&#39;s “quilting-in-the hoop” capabilities. This includes a thin, generally polygonal ruler with apertures for center marking, cross-hair marking, and size marking, as well as perimeters for edge markings to delineate fabric areas for quilting-in-the-hoop. The invention also includes a quilting ruler system with a plurality of such rulers of various dimensions and classes. Finally the invention includes a method of using the quilting rulers to map and extend quilting designs across a fabric area by selecting a quilting ruler, placing it on a fabric at a first fabric location, marking the fabric at the first fabric location through apertures, marking the fabric around the perimeter of the ruler, marking the dimension of the perimeter on the fabric, quilting at the first fabric location, and repeating these steps.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of, and claims priority toU.S. Design Patent Application Ser. No. 29/799,889, filed on Jul. 16,2021.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Embroidery is the art of working raised and ornamental designs inthreads in a fabric with a needle. It is a traditional expression ofhuman culture, history, and connection. Machine embroidery is a type ofembroidery that uses a sewing or embroidery machine to create patternson textiles. In recent years, the market for machine embroidery andmachine embroidery accessories has grown based on: (a) increased use ofhome embroidery machines by domestic handlers; (b) scaling ofentrepreneurship for retailers of embroidery machinery and accessories;and (c) advancements in manufacturing and product innovation. Thesetrends are expected to continue, particularly the popularity of homemachine embroidery.

Modern home embroidery machines are computer controlled and use softwareprograms to increase user options and capabilities. In a typical homeembroidery machine process, digital patterns are selected by a user andloaded into an embroidery machine. The area of the selected pattern mustmatch the perimeter of a hoop which secures the fabric to be embroideredupon by the embroidery machine. The fabric is typically secured in thehoop with a backing and/or stabilizer and then placed on the machine. Aneedle is centered over the starting point of the design and a userinitiates the embroidery machine and monitors as the machine sews thepattern onto the fabric within the hoop. The completed design is thenremoved from the machine.

Quilting is a related art that similarly reflects culture, history, andconnection. It is a sewing technique in which two layers of fabric,usually with an insulating interior layer (or batting) are sewn togetherwith multiple rows of stitching. Like embroidery, the stitching ofquilting can incorporate various design elements and patterns. Mostcommonly, a machine known as a longarm quilting machine is used to quiltlarger projects. However, longarm quilting machines are very large andexpensive, and domestic handlers desire more accessible and lessexpensive quilting alternatives. So, home embroidery machines areoccasionally used to quilt in addition to their main function ofperforming machine embroidery. One home embroidery machine quiltingtechnique is known as “quilting-in-the-hoop.” By quilting-in-the-hoop auser can create quilts in small sections (block by block or in strips)that correspond to the hoop size of the embroidery machine, and thenextend the quilting incrementally over a fabric project.

Quilting-in-the-hoop presents specific challenges for home embroiderymachine users, particularly in systematically extending quilting designacross a large fabric. For example, very precise measurements must bemade to ensure the alignment and connection of incrementally added,quilted sections. Moreover, if varying block sizes or patterns aredesired on a larger fabric, it may become very difficult for a user todelineate different quilting areas on fabric and keep track of and matchall of the different markings, hoops, designs, design files, anddimensions in order to successfully extend a custom quilting designacross the fabric.

What is needed is a quilting ruler, quilting ruler system, and method ofuse to assist a home embroidery machine user to quilt in-the-hoop moreeasily and in a variety of ways, including, but not limited to, usingvarious sizes of blocks and different patterns, so as to skillfullyextend a custom quilting design across a fabric with a home embroiderymachine and without use of a longarm quilting machine.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the above, a new and innovative quilting ruler,quilting ruler system, and method of use is provided. The problem ofenabling a home embroidery machine user to quilt in-the-hoop more easilyand in a variety of ways is solved through: (a) a quilting rulercomprising a generally polygonal member with a center and a perimeter, afirst non-elongate aperture located at the center; and a plurality ofelongate apertures disposed at right angles between the center and theperimeter; (b) a quilting ruler system with a plurality of such rulers,including of various dimensions; and (c) a method of using the same. Oneembodiment of the method of use includes selecting a quilting ruler,placing it on a fabric at a first fabric location, marking the fabric atthe first fabric location through apertures, marking the fabric aroundthe perimeter of the ruler, marking the dimension of the perimeter onthe fabric, quilting at the first fabric location, and repeating thesesteps to extend quilting design across a fabric.

These and other aspects of the present invention will become more fullyapparent from the following description and appended claims or may belearned by the practice of the invention as set forth hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

To further clarify the above and other aspects of the present invention,a more particular description of the invention will be rendered byreference to specific embodiments thereof which are illustrated in theappended drawings. It is appreciated that these drawings depict onlytypical embodiments of the invention and are therefore not to beconsidered limiting of its scope. The drawings may not be drawn toscale. The invention will be described and explained with additionalspecificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a top view of a quilting ruler.

FIG. 2 is a top view of a first group of quilting rulers in a quiltingruler system.

FIG. 3 is a top view of a second group of quilting rulers in a quiltingruler system.

FIG. 4 is a top view of a third group of quilting rulers in a quiltingruler system.

FIG. 5 is a top view of a fourth group of quilting rulers in a quiltingruler system.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a first method of use for a quilting rulerand/or quilting ruler system.

FIG. 7 is a top view of a quilting ruler placed on a fabric at a firstfabric location within a first method of use for a quilting ruler and/orquilting ruler system.

FIG. 8 is a top view of a quilting ruler placed on a fabric being markedat a first fabric location within a first method of use for a quiltingruler and/or quilting ruler system.

FIG. 9 is a top view of a fabric marked at a first fabric locationthrough use of a quilting ruler within a first method of use for aquilting ruler and/or quilting ruler system.

FIG. 10 is a top view of a quilting ruler placed on a fabric and beingmarked at a second fabric location within a first method of use for aquilting ruler and/or quilting ruler system.

FIG. 11 is a top view of a first exemplary placement of quilting rulerswithin a plurality of quilting rulers on a fabric at different fabriclocations within a method of use for a quilting ruler and/or quiltingruler system.

FIG. 12 is a top view of a second exemplary placement of quilting rulerswithin a plurality of quilting rulers on a fabric at different fabriclocations within a method of use for a quilting ruler and/or quiltingruler system.

FIG. 13 is a top view of a third exemplary placement of quilting rulerswithin a plurality of quilting rulers on a fabric at different fabriclocations within a method of use for a quilting ruler and/or quiltingruler system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT

The present invention in its various embodiments, some of which aredepicted in the figures herein, is a quilting ruler, system, and methodof use.

Referring now to FIG. 1 , a quilting ruler 100 is shown. Quilting ruler100 is comprised of a generally polygonal member 101. Generallypolygonal member 101 may be formed of a polymer such as, for example,polyvinyl chloride (PVC). In various embodiments, generally polygonalmember 101 may be of a thickness less than 1 millimeter. The thicknessof generally polygonal member 101 may also be less than 0.5 millimeter(e.g., in one embodiment less than 0.4 millimeter). Generally polygonalmember 101 may be translucent, blue and/or flexible. Generally polygonalmember 101 may incorporate a grid 113 of predetermined measure acrossits surface, comprised of, for example, 1-inch squares or similar commonmeasurement.

The quilting ruler 100 has a center 102, a perimeter 103 following anouter edge, a first non-elongate aperture located at the center 102, anda plurality of elongate apertures 104, 105, 106, 107 disposed at rightangles between the center 102 and the perimeter 103. One or more of theelongate apertures 107 within the plurality of elongate apertures 104,105, 106, 107 terminates in an arrow shape 109. As set forth in moredetail in method descriptions below, the arrow shape 109 is configuredto indicate where the top of the hoop should be when a user is hoopingfabric. Quilting ruler 100 has a second, non-elongate aperture 108located between the center 102 and the perimeter 103. A first sizeindicator 111 may be located adjacent the second, non-elongate aperture108. A second size indicator 112 that corresponds to the dimensions ofthe quilting ruler 100 may also be located on the embroider ruler 100.First and second size indicators 111, 112 are configured to indicate thesize and/or dimensions of the quilting ruler 100. In variousembodiments, quilting ruler 100 may also have corner 110 and/or sidemarks configured to reference outer marking locations, again, describedin more detail in the method descriptions below. Significantly, quiltingruler is configured differently from an embroidery hoop template gridthat may accompany and be and used with home embroidery machines. Forexample, quilting ruler is not configured to be attached to or usedwithin the hoop in any manner.

Referring now to FIGS. 2-5 , a system 200 incorporating variousembodiments of the quilting ruler 100 is shown. System 200 is comprisedof a plurality of quilting rulers (roughly 202 through 503 in theillustrated embodiment), each ruler having some or all of the featuresheretofore described. System 200 may include quilting rulers ofdifferent dimensions. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, afirst class of quilting rulers 201, 301 in the system 200 generallycorresponds to quilting and/or embroidery project widths of between 1and 6 inches wide (for, e.g., borders designed to complement and framethe borders of a quilt) and may have one of the following dimensions (ininches): 1×7 (202), 2×7 (203), 3×7 (204), 4×7 (205), 5×7 (206), 6×7(207), 1×10 (302), 2×10 (303), 3×10 (304), 4×10 (305), 5×10 (306), and6×10 (307). A second class 401, 501 of quilting rulers in the system 200corresponds to quilting and/or embroidery project block sizes (designed,e.g., to evenly fill the entire block area of a quilt and be tiledtogether to create an allover or custom quilting effect) may have one ofthe following dimensions: 2×2 (402), 2×4 (403), 2×6 (404), 2×8 (405),2×10 (406), 4×4 (407), 4×6 (408), 4×8 (409), 8×8 (410), 8×10 (411), 6×6(502), 6×8 (503), 6×10 (504), 4×10 (505). Of course, quilting rulers mayhave any dimension without departing from the purposes and scope of theinvention. In various embodiments, the system also includes executablemachine embroidery pattern or design files, software, and/or computerprograms specific and size-corresponding to each ruler.

Referring now to FIG. 6 , a method 600 of using a quilting ruler,quilting rulers, and/or quilting ruler system is shown. A first quiltingruler and/or an quilting ruler from among the plurality of quiltingrulers as set forth above is selected 601. The particular quilting rulerselected is based on user-preference variables such as size, dimension,class, and/or design. The first quilting ruler is placed on a fabric ata first fabric location A 602 (see FIG. 7 ). The fabric is marked at thefirst fabric location A through the first non-elongate aperture and theelongate apertures 603 (see FIG. 8 ). The fabric is marked at the firstfabric location A around the perimeter of the quilting ruler todelineate a first area 604 (see FIGS. 8 & 9 ). The dimension of theperimeter is marked on the fabric at the first fabric location A throughthe second non-elongate aperture (see FIGS. 8 & 9 ). The fabric is thenquilted and/or embroidered within the first area 606 with home machineembroidery equipment using quilting-in-the hoop techniques;alternatively, the steps are repeated at a second fabric location B 608,and so on, and quilting and/or embroidering is performed (again, usinghome machine embroidery equipment and quilting-in-the-hoop techniques)after a larger portion of or the entire project area has been markedusing the ruler and/or rulers. In preferred embodiments, the quiltingand/or embroidery performed is a specific quilting design for joiningtwo or more layers of fabric with multiple rows of stitching. In anyevent, the steps are repeated 609 to extend markings and quilting and/orembroidery design across the fabric.

By using the quilting ruler, rulers, and/or system outside of a homeembroidery machine hoop, a user may incrementally mark fabric, align,and extend custom sewing design across a fabric area much larger thanthe otherwise limiting area of the hoop, and without using a long armmachine to do so. Moreover, using different dimensioned quilting rulers,a user can perform these operations to extend custom sewing designacross a fabric in a way that incorporates elements that vary by thearea delineated by the quilting rulers. Referring now to FIGS. 11-13 ,exemplary ruler-on-fabric combination and/or configurations that allowfor varied quilting designs are shown.

Thus configured, the problem of achieving a quilting ruler, quiltingruler system, and method of use to assist a home embroidery machine userto quilt in-the-hoop more easily and in a variety of ways—including, butnot limited to, using various sizes of blocks and different patterns, soas to skillfully extend a custom quilting design across a fabric with ahome embroidery machine and without use of a longarm quilting machine—issolved.

The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only asillustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is,therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoingdescription. All changes which come within the meaning and range ofequivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.

Because the embodiments above address the concept of quilting using anembroidering machine, the terms “quilt, quilting, embroidery,embroidery” are generally synonymous as used herein.

1. A quilting ruler comprising: a generally polygonal member with acenter and a perimeter a first non-elongate aperture located at thecenter; and a plurality of elongate apertures disposed at right anglesbetween the center and the perimeter.
 2. The quilting ruler of claim 1further comprising a second non-elongate aperture located between thecenter and the perimeter.
 3. The quilting ruler of claim 1 wherein anelongate aperture within the plurality of elongate apertures terminatesin an arrow shape.
 4. The quilting ruler of claim 1 the generallypolygonal member formed of a translucent polymer.
 5. The quilting rulerof claim 1 wherein the generally polygonal member is flexible.
 6. Thequilting ruler of claim 1 configured to be used outside of an embroideryhoop.
 7. A quilting ruler system comprising: a plurality of quiltingrulers, each quilting ruler having a generally polygonal member with acenter and a perimeter a first non-elongate aperture located at thecenter; and a plurality of elongate apertures disposed at right anglesbetween the center and the perimeter.
 8. The quilting ruler system ofclaim 7, wherein the plurality of quilting rulers is comprised ofquilting rulers having different dimensions.
 9. The quilting rulersystem of claim 7, wherein each quilting ruler within the plurality ofquilting rulers has a second non-elongate aperture located between thecenter and the perimeter.
 10. The quilting ruler system of claim 7,wherein each quilting ruler within the plurality of quilting rulers hasan elongate aperture that terminates in an arrow shape.
 11. The quiltingruler system of claim 7 the generally polygonal member formed of atranslucent polymer.
 12. The quilting ruler system of claim 7 whereinthe generally polygonal member of each quilting ruler within theplurality of quilting rulers is flexible.
 13. The quilting ruler systemof claim 7 wherein each quilting ruler within the plurality of quiltingrulers is configured to be used outside of an embroidery hoop.
 14. Thequilting ruler system of claim 7, the generally polygonal member beingless than 1 mm in thickness.
 15. The quilting ruler system of claim 7,the generally polygonal member being less than 0.5 mm in thickness. 16.A method of quilting comprising the steps of: selecting a first quiltingruler having a generally polygonal member with a center and a perimeter,a first non-elongate aperture located at the center, a secondnon-elongate aperture located between the center and perimeter, and aplurality of elongate apertures disposed at right angles between thecenter and the perimeter, placing the first quilting ruler on a fabricat a first fabric location; marking the fabric at the first fabriclocation through the first non-elongate aperture and the elongateapertures; marking the fabric at the first fabric location around theperimeter to delineate a first area; and marking the dimension of theperimeter on the fabric at the first fabric location through the secondnon-elongate aperture; and quilting within the first area.
 17. Themethod of quilting of claim 16, further comprising the steps of: placingthe first quilting ruler on a fabric at a second fabric location that isadjacent to the first fabric location; marking the fabric at the secondfabric location through the first non-elongate aperture and elongateapertures; marking the fabric at the second fabric location around theperimeter to delineate a second area; and marking the dimension of theperimeter on the fabric at the second fabric location through the secondnon-elongate aperture; quilting within the second area.
 18. The methodof quilting of claim 17, further comprising the step of repeating thesteps at different fabric locations to extend an embroidery designacross the fabric.
 19. The method of quilting of claim 16, furthercomprising the steps of: selecting a second quilting ruler having agenerally polygonal member with a center and a perimeter, a firstnon-elongate aperture located at the center, a second non-elongateaperture located between the center and perimeter, and a plurality ofelongate apertures disposed at right angles between the center andperimeter, the second quilting ruler having a perimeter of differentdimension than that of the first quilting ruler, placing the secondruler on a fabric at a second fabric location that is adjacent to thefirst fabric location; marking the fabric at the second fabric locationthrough the first non-elongate aperture and the elongate apertures;marking the fabric at the second fabric location around the perimeter todelineate a second area; and marking the dimension of the perimeter onthe fabric at the second fabric location through the second non-elongateaperture; quilting within the second area.
 20. The method of quilting ofclaim 19, further comprising the step of repeating the steps atdifferent fabric locations to extend an embroidery design across thefabric.